Savoring a Divisive Victory

One politician who was not invited to visit the presidential residence
last week was Rabbi Meir Kahane, 52, the Brooklyn-born head of the Kach
Party. Not that the snub dismayed him. The founder of the New York
City-based Jewish Defense League, who emigrated to Israel with his
special brand of right-wing extremism in 1971, was still savoring one
of the most divisive victories in last month's elections. Three times
before, he had tried and failed. His success was yet another indication
that the Israeli electorate was shifting to the right.